Hybrid tea rose plant named ‘KORsouba’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose with long lasting, novel cream pink flowers, and attractive foliage with good disease resistance. It exhibits uniform, upright to bushy growth with abundant flowers. The new variety propagates well from cuttings and by grafting. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Genus, species and variety denomination: The botanical classification of the new rose plant is Rosa hybrida, ‘KORsouba’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of rose plant of the present invention originated from a controlled crossing made in a rose breeding program between ‘TANanilov’ and ‘NOAsia’, both non- patented roses.

The resulting seeds were planted during the following winter. The resulting seedlings were evaluated and exhibited distinctive physical and biological characteristics. The new rose plant was selected as a single plant from the seedling beds due to its superior characteristics and asexually propagated for further evaluation. This new and distinctive rose variety is named ‘KORsouba’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘TANanilov’ by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flower color of ‘TANanilov’ is pink, while the flower         color of ‘KORsouba’ is cream pink.     -   2. The fragrance of ‘TANanilov’ is strong, while the fragrance         of ‘KORsouba’ is moderate.

The new rose plant may be distinguished from its pollen parent, NOAsia' by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flower color of ‘NOAsia’ is pink, while the flower color         of ‘KORsouba’ is cream pink.     -   2. The petal count of ‘NOAsia’ is semi-double, while the petal         count of ‘KORsouba’ is very double.

The objective of the hybridization was to create a new and distinct rose plant with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform growth and flowering;     -   2. Abundant attractive, recurrent flowers;     -   3. Attractive and abundant foliage; and     -   3. Resistance to diseases encountered in landscapes and gardens.

This combination of qualities is not present in prior rose cultivars known to the inventor. These objectives have been substantially achieved and in that distinguish ‘KORsouba’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of a rose development program, Tim-Hermann Kordes germinated seeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluations and observations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany. The resulting seedlings exhibited distinctive physical and biological characteristics. The new rose plant ‘KORsouba’ was selected in May, 2000 from the seedling beds to be asexually propagated for further evaluation. The first asexual propagation of ‘KORsouba’ was done by budding to seedling understocks in August, 2000 at the inventor's nursery in Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Germany.

This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlled environments demonstrate that ‘KORsouba’ reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, reproductive organs, leaves, and stems of ‘KORsouba’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of ‘KORsouba’, as observed growing in October, 2008 in a nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. on plants of 30 months of age. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001 except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘KORaburg’, a rose variety from the same inventor described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,763 and issued on May 29, 2007 are compared to ‘KORsouba’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 Characteristic ‘KORsouba’ ‘KORaburg’ Flower, general Orange-White Group 159C Red-Purple Group 58C tonality Flower size, when 100-120 mm 100-120 mm open Overall plant height 120-125 cm 120 cm

-   Parents:     -   -   Seed parent.—‘TANanilov’.         -   Pollen parent.—‘NOAsia’. -   Classification:     -   -   Botanical classification.—Rosa hybrida, ‘KORsouba’.         -   Commercial classification.—Hybrid Tea.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent.         -   Flower bud.—Size: Upon opening, 35 mm in length from base of             receptacle to end of bud and 27 mm diameter at its widest             point. Bud form: Long. Pointed ovoid. Bud color: As sepals             first unfold, bud color is Yellow-Green Group 150D. When ¼             open, the upper surface of petals is Yellow Group 10D and             the lower surface is Yellow Group 11C with intonations of             Red Group 54A on petal margins.         -   Sepals.—Size: Average 25-28 mm long×8-9 mm wide. Shape:             Sepals generally subulate. Sepal apex is generally cirrose.             Weak foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals. Base             is flat at union with receptacle. Quantity: Five. Margins:             With stipitate glands. Surface texture: Inner side: Covered             in fine white hairs. Outer surface: smooth. Stipitate glands             are absent. Color: Upper surface Yellow-Green Group 150D.             Lower surface Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Receptacle.—Surface: Smooth. Color: Green Group 143B. Shape:             Pear shaped. Size: 10-11 mm (h)×11-12 mm (w).         -   Peduncle.—Surface: Smooth. Length: 40-50 mm average length.             Diameter: 4-5 mm average diameter. Color: Yellow-Green Group             144B. Strength: Strong. Borne: Singly. 1-3 buds per             flowering stem.

-   Flower bloom:     -   -   Fragrance.—Moderate to strong fragrance.         -   Duration.—On the plant 7 days. Long lasting. As a cut             flower, 6 to 7 days. Senesced petals drop away cleanly.         -   Size.—Large flowered garden rose. When open, the average             flower diameter is 100-120 mm and the average flower height             is 50-55 mm.         -   Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon             opening, upper part: Flat. Upon opening, lower part:             Flattened convex. Open flower, upper part: Flat. Open             flower, lower part: Concave.

-   Color:     -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer side: Yellow             Group 11C with intonations of Red Group 54A. Inner side:             Yellow Group 10D. Innermost petals: Outer side: Orange-White             Group 159B with intonations of Red Group 54A. Inner side:             Yellow-White Group 158A with intonations of Red Group 38A.         -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot, outermost             petals: Outer side: Yellow Group 2C. Inner side: Yellow             Group 2B. Basal petal spot, innermost petals: Outer side:             Yellow Group 2B. Inner side: Green-Yellow Group 1A.         -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer side: Yellow             Group 4D with intonations of Red Group 54A. Inner side:             Yellow Group 4D with intonations on petal edges of Red Group             54B. Innermost petals: Outer side: Yellow Group 4D with             intonations of Red Group 54B. Inner side: Yellow Group 4D             with intonations on petal edges of Red Group 54C.         -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Basal petal spot,             outermost petals: Outer side: Yellow Group 2C. Inner side:             Yellow Group 2C. Basal petal spot, innermost petals: Outer             side: Yellow Group 2C. Inner side: Yellow Group 2C.         -   Variegations.—None.

-   General tonality: On open flower Orange-White Group 159C. No change     in the general tonality at the end of the 5^(th) day. Afterwards,     general tonality is White Group 155A.

-   Petals:     -   -   Petal count.—Approximately 40-45 petals under normal             conditions.         -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex slightly.         -   Petal edge.—Ruffled.         -   Petal shape.—Deltoid. Apex shape is round. Shape of base is             acute.         -   Petal size.—50-55 mm long; 45-50 mm wide.         -   Thickness.—Thick.         -   Petal arrangement.—Generally in a regular pattern with             overlapping edges.

-   Petaloids: Present.     -   -   Petaloid count.—Average of 2-4 per flower.         -   Petaloid edge.—Ruffled.         -   Petaloid texture.—Smooth.         -   Petaloid shape.—Linear to elliptic.         -   Petaloid size.—Petaloids are 14-16 mm long and 5-6 mm wide.         -   Petaloid color.—Color of inner side is Red Group 49B and Red             Group 49C. Color of outer side is Orange-White Group 159C             with intonations on petaloid edges of Red Group 54A.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—Approximately 35-40 present. Stigmas: Location:             Slightly superior in position to anthers. Color:             Yellow-White Group 158C. Styles: Length: 10-11 mm long.             Color: Red-Purple Group 58A. Intonations of Greyed-Yellow             Group 162D.         -   Stamens.—Approximately 70-80 on average and regularly             arranged. Anthers: Size: 3 mm long. Color: Yellow Group 13A             and Yellow Group 13B. Pollen: Absent. Filaments: Color: Red             Group 51C with intonations of Yellow-Green Group 154D.             Length: 9-10 mm.

THE PLANT

-   -   -   Plant growth.—Vigorous. Upright to bushy habit. When grown             as a budded nursery plant the average plant height is             120-125 cm and the average plant width is 75-85 cm.         -   Stems.—Stem color: Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 146B.             Anthocyanin: Greyed-Purple Group 183A and 183B. Older wood:             Green Group 137C. Stem surface: Young wood: Smooth. Older             wood: Rough.         -   Prickles.—Present. Incidence: 10-12 per 10 cm of stem. Size:             Average length: 8-10 mm. Color: Immature prickles:             Greyed-Purple Group 184A. Mature prickles: Greyed-Orange             Group 166A. Senescing to Greyed-Orange Group 166A. Shape:             Concave. Anthocyanin: Color: Greyed-Purple Group 184A.         -   Leaves and leaflets.—Normally 3-5 leaflets on normal leaves             in middle of the stem. Leaf size: 150-180 mm (1)×120-140 mm             (w). Quantity: Abundant. Texture: Upper side of leaflet:             Semi-glossy. Leathery. Under side of leaflet: Matte. Rough.             Leathery. Color, mature foliage: Upper Leaf Surface:             Yellow-Green Group 147A. Lower Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green             Group 148B. Color, juvenile foliage: Upper Leaf Surface:             Green Group 137A. Lower Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group             148B. Anthocyanin intonation: Present. Location: Intonations             present on juvenile leaf margins, developing leaves,             peduncles, rachis, petiole, and stems. Color: Greyed-Purple             Group 187A.         -   Stipules.—Size: 18-20 mm long. 10-11 mm between the tips of             the stipule. Main body of stipule 5-6 mm in width. Shape:             Longitudinally flanged or winged along middle. Stipule             color: Green Group 138A and Yellow Group 146B. Anthocyanin:             Greyed-Purple Group 184B. Presence of stipitate glands:             Present on margins. Margins: Serrated. With stipitate             glands.         -   Petiole.—Length: 15-20 mm. Diameter: 1.5-2.0 mm. Petiole             color: Green Group 138A. Anthocyanin present on juvenile             tissue, Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Underneath: Smooth.             Stipitate glands: Limited numbers of stipitate glands on             margins.         -   Petiole rachis.—Length: 22-25 mm. Diameter: 1.5-2.0 mm.             Color: Green Group 138A. Anthocyanin present on juvenile             tissue, Greyed-Purple Group 183A. Margins: Stipitate glands             present. Prickles: Lacking. Stipitate glands: Limited             numbers of stipitate glands on margins.         -   Leaflets.—Size: Average size of the terminal leaflet is             70-80 mm (1)×45-50 mm (w). Shape: Ovate. Base: Broadly             ovate. Apex: Acute. Margins: Serrated. Texture: Thick and             leathery.

-   Hips/seed formation: None observed.

-   Winter hardiness: To date, the variety has been grown successfully     in USDA Hardiness Zone 5.

-   Disease resistance: Above average resistance to Powdery mildew     (Sphaerotheca pannosa), rust (P. disciflorum), blackspot     (Diplocarpon rosae), and Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) diseases under     normal growing conditions. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant as herein illustrated and described: (a) Forms attractive, long lasting cream pink flowers; (b) Exhibits uniform, upright to bushy growth habit; (c) Propagates well using traditional methods, and; (d) Exhibits very good resistance to disease under normal growing conditions, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 